AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He shakes his head. “No,” he says. “Elixir won’t hurt you in any way unless you consume it too often, and I have a feeling that won’t be a problem. We’re using it ceremonially, not for exploitation.”
“Got it,” I say. “Will I feel any different afterwards?”
“It’s hard to know,” Taln says. “How do you feel now?”
“You know. Like shit,” I say, smiling at him. I sigh, telling myself that I should be transparent about my feelings even if it makes me feel uncomfortable. Even if it makesthemuncomfortable. Taln asked how I felt, and I don’t think he was being rhetorical so I’m just going to tell him the truth. “No, not like shit, I’m just uncomfortable with all these new parts. They’re helpful and light, but I’m still trying to get used to what’s essentially a new body. And it’s taking me a little bit to wrap my head around it. Doing this Elixir thing, it scares me because I feel like it’s going to change the way I feel about my body again and I don’t know what to think about that. I find it very disorienting.”
“I expect there will be something of an adjustment period for all of us, Kye,” Taln says. “But you won’t grow scales. Nothing about your appearance will change.”
“What about everything else? Because this means that we’re all going to be, like, bound to each other, right? Not just to Fiona.”
“Yes,” Taln says simply.
I hold back the urge to make a face. “So does that mean you’ll be married to your brother?”
“What? Gods, no,” Taln says, alarm written all over his face. Nereus clasps his hand over his face so he won’t laugh. “Nothing will change between me and Ryker. We’re brothers, we’re already bonded.”
“Gross when you put it that way, but I guess it’s less gross than what I originally thought.”
Taln grimaces. “Did you really think I would have no hesitation if…”
I hold up my hand to stop him from talking. “Hey, big guy, I’m not here to question your kinks,” I say.
“That is not my kink,” Taln replies, anger creeping into his voice.
Nereus finally laughs. “He’s teasing you, Taln,” he says. “Kye handles tension with humor.”
“And I was afraid I would lose my good looks, but since you clarified, that’s great,” I say. “I wouldn’t want to lose my good looks. You guys are all okay, but…”
Nereus laughs as Taln rolls his eyes. “I didn’t realize this was a competition,” Nereus says. “But I’m sure, if it is, you’re winning.”
“Incorrect,” I say, looking into his sparkling green eyes. “You’re winning.”
Taln gets to his feet with a slap to the table. “Well,” he says. “I think that’s likely my cue to leave.”
“Stay, future husband,” I say. “You’re missing out on the lovefest.”
Taln turns to Nereus and gestures helplessly. “I’ll never understand your affection for this human.”
“You will, once we’re married!” I shout after him.
That time, he does crack a smile. “I don’t need to be here for this. Kye, let me know if you have any more questions.”
“I know where to find you,” I say. Nereus and I watch in silence as he walks away, his footsteps resonating on the Wrath, and I turn to smile at Nereus, whose cheeks are rosy red and whose eyes are narrow.
“What?” I ask.
He reaches out, grabs my hand and interlaces his fingers with mine. “I know that romance isn’t the reason we’re doing this,” he says. “But I was thinking maybe I should’ve also got you a ring.”
CHAPTER FORTY
TALN
As night draws closer, we prepare for the Elixir Ceremony. It feels…strange to imagine being bonded to the others for life, to share in this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Among the Skoll, we hold rowdy feasts on the night of an Elixir Ceremony, celebrating the virility of each partner—or multiple partners, if fate chose such a union—by watching as they consummate their joining. The Merati, while somewhat more formal, have a similar process, though all the other partygoers usually partake in the lovemaking themselves. The original plan was for Nereus to be the only one Elixir Bonded to Fiona, but with war on the horizon and Lamia’s mind control powers at an all-time high, we have no choice but for us all to serve her.
And I find that, whereas the last time we considered it, the joining felt wrong…now, it feels like our last chance to commit to each other before we’re all separated—possibly for good.
